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Volatile Organic Compound Abatement
Systems and Thermal Oxidisers
Countries throughout the world have come to
realise that a substantial reduction of volatile organic
compounds result in better air quality.
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VOC emissions:
Next to natural processes, VOC emissions result from vehicle
emission, fuels, petroleum products and chemicals. They are
generated in modern manufacturing industries and food
production. Prime examples of VOC generation are spray
painting rendering process and chemical production.
Generator of VOC:
Any manufacturing process which gives off an odour is a
generator of VOC.
Problems arising from the generation of VOC:
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VOCs in combination with nitrogen oxides are responsible for
ground level ozone and smog. Both have an impact on health
and environment. Children, the elderly and people with
respiratory illness are particularly at risk.
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Some, such as those generated in chemical production, for
example, may be carcinogenic in nature.
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These organic compounds will evaporate readily into the air
and will spread substances such as benzene, toluene,
methylene chloride and methyl chloroform over a wide area.
Effects of VOCs in the area of generation:
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A working environment laden with VOCs is not conducive
to productive working practices.
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The health of production workers may suffer.
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Processes such as spray painting generate a potentially
combustible hazard due to the hydrocarbon content of VOCs
used in the manufacture of paint.
Effects on the immediate locality:
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VOCs give off odour and local communities will raise
complaints about smell. This ties up managers who have to
deal with such complaints in a non-productive function.
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Local objections can result in the local pollution control
board closing down a manufacturing process until VOC/odour
problems are rectified to the satisfaction of all parties.
Closure of a production facility result in loss of income
and profit.
How to deal with VOC problems:
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The best and recognised method of rendering VOCs inert is to
treat them in a VOC abatement system. The VOCs are extracted
from the point of generation, a paint spray booth for
example, to the VOC abatement system where they undergo
thermal treatment at high temperature and long residence
time in order to render them inert. The resulting treated
gas is then discharged to atmosphere.
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To create an energy balance, the treated
hot gases can be passed to the atmosphere via a waste heat
boiler or a steam boiler and generator to provide a free
supply of either hot water or electricity or to pre-heat
incoming VOC stream before treatment
Advantages of VOC abatement:
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A better working environment results.
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A better relationship with the local
community results.
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The pollution control board will see you
as an environmentally safe company.
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Free supplies of hot water, steam or
electricity will be made available and will result in
reduced overheads.
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Long residence time in VOC abatement
system negates the need for scrubbing of off gas.
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